Visiting Artist SeriesNovember 8, 2013Laura Donefer Glassblowing

Laura has been working and teaching for over three decades. She was born in Ithaca, NY and raised in Quebec, Canada. In 1973 Laura studied sculpture for a year at the National Art School of Cubanacan in Havana, and in 1979 graduated with honours from McGill University in Montreal. After travelling the world and working with many interesting people, Laura trained as a glass artist at Sheridan College School of Craft and Design, graduating in 1985. She has been using glass as the primary medium in her work for 30 years, often combining it with diverse materials.

Creating her work is extremely important to Laura, but so is teaching. She has been staff in the glass department at Sheridan College and has been permanent part time faculty at Espace Verre in Montreal for over 25 years, helping to mold the school with her dynamic classes. Laura has spent many years teaching at Pilchuck, Penland, Corning, Red Deer, and conducts many workshops in schools throughout North America and beyond, including Japan and Australia.

As president of the Glass Art Association of Canada, Laura was instrumental in trying to unite of all the glass artists across Canada when she began publishing a quarterly magazine which has developed into the major voice of the Canadian glass artist today.

As well as all her teaching and lecturing, Laura keeps to a very busy exhibition schedule, presenting her work internationally since 1985. She has participated in many solo and group exhibitions, including shows at the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art in Japan, the Museo del Vidrio in Mexico, the Museum of Fine Art in Montreal and the Museum of Modern Art in Shanghai, China. Her work is in many public and private collections, including the Corning Museum of Glass, the Museum of Art & Design in New York, and the Museum of Fine Art in Quebec City.

Laura has been given many awards, among them the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Glass Art Association of Canada, the “Honorary Membership Award” from the Glass Art Society and the International Flame Working award for “ExtraordinaryContributions to the Glass Art World.” Laura loves organizing her wacky notorious GLASS FASHION SHOWS. The next one will be at the Corning Museum of Glass in 2016.

Class DescriptionFor a unique fun time in the hot shop, join glass diva, Laura Donefer, for two days of off the wall non-traditional techniques, lots of color, and even more texture! A great opportunity to ramp up you skills while in a no pressure atmosphere, with the color queen of glass,

A good time is guaranteed for all while you practice your glass blowing skills while bustin' out your moves on the hot shop floor.

Laura will be the lead gaffer for November's Ignite Your Nights hot shop glass demonstration starting at 6pm on Saturday, November 9th. Check back for more information or receive information by signing up for our mailing list.

On Sunday, November 10th, at 1PM Laura will be giving an artist lecture with a power point presentation of her work. This event is free and open to the public.